Rules and Law

Recent times have seen the emergence of a dangerous trend that would adversely affect elephant populations everywhere. This is the growing demand for the skins of elephants, especially, of the Asian elephant.

Chemicals released into a river by a Chinese-owned banana farm near the Lao capital Vientiane killed over 300 kg of fish in November, prompting warnings by authorities to local villagers not to bathe or fish in the polluted stream, sources in the country say.

Two Chinese-owned cement factories in the Vang Vieng district of Laos’ Vientiane Province are covering approximately 900 local families in at least four villages with dust and smog, threatening their health, local sources say.

A court in the Lao capital Vientiane today handed 15-year prison terms to the owners of a company accused last year of defrauding investors of thousands of U.S. dollars in personal savings, a Lao source says.

The department’s Deputy Director General, Mr Bounteng Symoun, told Vientiane Times the operators of drones that weigh one kilogram or more must obtain a certificate from the Radio Frequency Department.

Three Lao nationals – one man and two women – have been arrested while trying to cross the border into Laos from Nong Khai with Bt38 million in undeclared Thai banknotes hidden in their sedan’s speaker boxes and compartments.

Authorities have directed all media outlets to stop carrying advertisements for KIWI Co Ltd’s QR Code payments and services via the Alipay system in Laos as they do not have the required permission from the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL).

Laos continues to face a high risk of money laundering despite the country graduating from the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force last year, according to the National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment (NRA).

Laos will join Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar in offering an online e-visa option for tourism purposes, the last country in Southeast Asia to switch from passport-page sized stickers to electronically prearranged visas for self-printout

The U.S. State Department downgraded Myanmar and Laos to Tier 3, its lowest ranking, in an annual report on human trafficking released today, citing the countries’ failure to make significant efforts to combat the trade.

Amendments to the Law on Family Registration passed by the National Assembly (NA) recently will ease and regulate marriage between Lao and foreign nationals as well as family registration affairs in general.

A new IP law will come into force in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos this weekend, introducing trademark opposition procedures to the country for the first time. The new law also stipulates the creation of a new digital platform for brand rights and expands the range of images eligible for trademark protection in the jurisdiction, among other things.

The government is piloting the Lao National Single Window (LNSW) scheme at international border crossings, seeking to speed up customs clearance for vehicles and link the country to the Asean single window system.

Lao citizens and foreigners who are permanently resident in Laos will no longer need to fill in an immigration form when leaving or entering the country via international airports in Vientiane, LuangPrabang, Savannakhet, and Pakxe.

The Vientiane Traffic Police Department has rostered almost 600 police for security detail around the capital in a bid to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents during the Pi Mai Lao holiday from April 14-16.

Laos has to strengthen the rule of law if it wants to become a competitive investment destination, according to a report from the World Bank. “The country (Laos) faces issues that include weak regulatory effectiveness, control of corruption and rule of law,” the 2018-Doing Business in the Lao PDR report highlighted in its key findings.

Nong Khai police will in two weeks apply for arrest warrants related to money-laundering charges for Lao siblings who were caught trying to cross the border into Laos from Nong Khai with more than Bt98 million in undeclared Thai banknotes in December.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone has urged the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to accelerate improvement of the business climate by cutting the number of days it takes to register a business.

As Lao PDR’s economy grows and more companies begin conducting commercial activities here it will become increasingly important for businesses to protect and maintain their competitiveness in the market. A company’s failure to effectively protect its IP or to restrict infringement of its IP can lead to the loss of market share, revenue, reputation, opportunity and competitive advantage.

Lack of strong leadership, measures and inspection methods, combined with poor coordination, are causing incompetency in the justice sector, leading to an increase in violations of the law over the past year.

Lao authorities have warned foreign tour operators to utilise local tour guides otherwise they will be fined. The authorities also warned foreign tour operators to partner with local counterparts in arranging package tour programmes in Laos; if not they will face measures.

Traffic Police Department, Ministry of Public Security has reported that 917 lives have been killed in road accidents nationwide over the past 11 months with Vientiane Capital sharing the highest number of road accident casualties.

One of the most common agreements made in Lao PDR are lease agreements, whether they are for residential accommodation, office or shop space, factory or farm land or any other personal or commercial purposes. However, from time to time, disputes or disagreements may arise from the lease agreement, many of which could have been avoidable through clearly stated terms in a lease contract or a legal review for compliance under Lao PDR law.

Lao authorities are tightening controls at a crossing on the border with Thailand, posting warning signs and interviewing travelers in a bid to end the exploitation of young Lao citizens for sex or labor in the neighboring country.

The people of the capital of Laos are, by and large, peaceful and law-abiding but as with all other cities around the world, they too face the problem of crimes such as thefts and burglaries. Of late, the people of Vientiane have been troubled by several instances of car thefts and break-ins and it should be the mission of police officials to investigate these crimes and punish the wrong-doers under the laws of the country.

At SC69, Laos’ non-compliance was the subject of a working group in which EIA and other NGOs participated. The U.S. called for Laos to face full trade suspensions now, while the EU favored a warning and a time-bound process for specific remedial action to ensure Laos sets up proper CITES authorities and takes action to stop trade in parts and products of tigers (including farmed tigers), elephants, rhinos, pangolins and other wildlife.

The government has imposed a new regulation which requires places of entertainment to be located 500 metres or more from educational institutions, hospitals, government offices, and international organisations.

The abuse of power by some judges and dishonesty on the part of judges and defence lawyers so they can benefit from litigants was hotly debated by National Assembly (NA) members on Friday when they discussed a draft of the Law on Judges.

The government has entrusted authorities in charge to carry out inspections into 45.53 million litres of oil that was imported for a state investment project but was never actually used for that project.

Police suspected that a 60-year-old Chinese national who was found shot dead in front of Sikhay Plaza shopping mall in Sikhottabong district on Saturday morning was killed because of a business dispute.

Laos, officially Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), issues several types of work visas to foreigners planning to work in the country, based on the type of employment and projects assumed by them.

In line with the policy to adjust the maximum ceiling of the insurable earnings under the National Social Security Fund (“NSSF”) framework at five times the minimum wage set by the Government of Lao PDR and adjusted from

Laos and Cambodia have completed the demarcation of about 87 percent of their border, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced during a news conference held in Vientiane to provide an explanation about the recent problem on the frontier.

Education authorities are preparing to cooperate with fellow government agencies to shut down entertainment venues if found to be in breach of regulations once receiving the appropriate order. Entertainment venues and shops that sell alcohol are not allowed to ..

Laos is preparing to establish administrative courts to better address administrative disputes between executive agencies and the general public. The move will allow members of the public to file a lawsuit against …

Vientiane authorities have resolved a significant number of cases of illegal car imports and import tax avoidance over the past six months, recovering funds due to support the nation’s budget. The 382 vehicles seized in the capital were …

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called for combined efforts from the Lao people from all walks of life to join global citizens in the fight against illegal drug trade and abuse as it is still a major problem for Laos.

In case you missed it, Singapore’s reputation as an attractive holding company location for investments into Lao PDR recently went up a notch: after being signed way back in February 2014, the long-awaited tax treaty/double taxation agreement between Lao PDR and Singapore (the “DTA”) became effective on 1 January 2017.

Dozens of fertility clinics have mushroomed in land-locked Laos after scandals over commercial surrogacy have spurred wealthier southeast Asian neighbours to ban the controversial procedure since 2015.

As tour buses pull up in front of San Jiang Market, not far from Wattay International Airport, a guide beckons to a group of Chinese tourists. They soon disappear into the jungle of shops bearing signs in Chinese characters, many of which sell “local specialties,” or any illicit wildlife product imaginable.

The choice of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism has risen in popularity as a time and cost-effective option to resolve commercial disputes. By including an arbitration clause in contractual arrangements, contracting parties may agree in advance on the seat and rules of arbitration, the size of the arbitration panel and even the rules to ….

The recent arrest in Nong Khai of a man from Bangkok and six Thai women carrying an empty nitrogen tank and lab equipment while returning from Laos on Saturday evening shed light on a criminal conspiracy employing Thai women as surrogate mothers.

Compared to their ultra-violent Central and Latin American cousins, the drug dealers of Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle use their low-profile to remain beyond the long arm of the law. But they control the world’s second largest drug producing region, manufacturing and moving ….

The Labour Law (2013) came into effect on 28 October 2014, repealing and replacing the previous Labour Law (2006) and introducing a number of significant changes relating to the basic rules of employment in Lao PDR. As the Labour Law is now well into its third year in force, we consider one of its more significant yet often overlooked legal requirements for employers in Lao PDR – internal regulations or “work rules” of the workplace for employees.

The labour and security sectors are gearing up to register and issue temporary work permits to foreign workers as part of government efforts to strictly regulate foreign nationals. According to a report from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, some 24,000 foreign workers were registered over the last year, mostly Vietnamese, ….

Vientiane authorities are taking a close look at advertisements written in foreign languages in the capital in a bid to enforce the regulations on such signs. Many advertisements are written in foreign languages in the capital, especially in Sikhottabong, Xaysettha and Chanthabouly districts. The department is planning to inspect all hoardings written in foreign languages to determine whether …..

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on Tuesday handed in his BMW 7 Series, following up on a promise made by the country’s leaders that they will no longer drive expensive luxury vehicles in an attempt to exercise frugality. President Bounnhang Vorachit, who is Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, was also expected to give back his BMW 7 Series yesterday, an official at the ….

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith says he wants to end the Lao government’s policy of bartering land for development, in a reversal of a long-term practice that has seen large swaths of the country go to foreign-backed investors. “The business sector should not convince the governmental sector to create debts for the nation,” Thongloun told the Lao version of the chamber of commerce earlier this month. “In recent years, many big development projects, including ….

The government has instructed its anti-corruption body to work out necessary measures and carry out inspection to fight against corruption in all forms. Chaired by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, the meeting entrusted a committee in charge of debt payment for state investment projects to draw up measures for debt payment so that ….

The health authority has established a system for the inspection of expired goods mixed in markets in an effort to curb the growth in these products according to the regulations. The sale of fake and expired goods mixed with other products is still a common occurrence in Vientiane, even though the health authorities carry out regular ….

Some 737 police officers have been dismissed from their posts over the past five years after taking bribes and abusing their power. More than 1,000 police officers were found to have violated laws and regulations including the 737 who were dismissed. A report on the cases was presented at the ….

Amendments to the Investment Promotion Law has shortened investment concession periods to ensure closer scrutiny of investors’ operations, Lao state-run daily Vientiane Times reported on Monday. A draft amendment to the law, which was passed by Lao National Assembly (NA) last week, shortens the investment concession period from 99 years to 50 years, a change that was widely welcomed by NA members during ….

The Asian Football Confederation said on Monday it had provisionally suspended four Laos national-team members as it investigates suspected manipulation of “multiple matches” going back years. The players were provisionally suspended for 60 days for “various violations… related to suspected match manipulation,” the AFC said in a …..

Trillions of kip have been lost due to the continued violation of financial regulations by ministries, government agencies, and state enterprises. These include losses due to tax discounts and exemptions on the import and export of goods, the illegal transfer of state property, and other financial …..

Illegal financial institutions that have sourced funds by offering abnormally high interest rates will face legal measures, the governor of the central bank has warned. Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR, Dr Somphao Phaysith, told the ongoing ordinary session of the National Assembly (NA) that 24 institutions have been found acquiring deposits illegally. He said the bank has issued a notice instructing these institutions to …..

The Vientiane authorities have agreed to reinstate the old traffic rules for turning right at traffic lights nationwide. Motorists are now allowed to turn right on a red light signal unless such a turn is expressly forbidden by signage but they are urged to exercise caution in doing so. For almost four months, the Vientiane authorities introduced a ….

The Taxation Department of the Ministry of Finance is aiming to introduce new land and road tax rates to boost government revenue for next fiscal year. According to the Taxation Department’s report for the first seven months of the 2015-2016 fiscal year they were yet to determine what the percentage increase would be for the numerous categories of land and road tax. At present tax is collected for land and vehicles at many different rates depending …..

Party Chief and President Bounnhang Vorachit has instructed the top anti-corruption body to appropriately punish those officials found violating the regulations in a bid to stamp out malpractice and lax discipline. The president also endorsed the creation of measures that would enable members of the public to participate in inspection work …..

Robbers shot a Chinese woman dead last night on the T2 road in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane. A witness said that at 21:25 a Chinese couple was walking along T2 road (also known as Asean Road) when a man and a woman pulled up on a motorbike and confronted the couple. They produced a gun and demanded that …..

People of 47 different nationalities are married to Lao citizens, with most foreign partners coming from the three nations of Thailand, the Republic of Korea and China, according to figures from the Protection Police and Lao-Anti Trafficking Department. Some 1,600 marriages involving Lao citizens and foreigners were recorded from 2012-2015. In 75 cases, foreign women …..

As of yesterday, according to this report of the Lao National TV, it’s forbidden to take a right turn on a red traffic light, unless there is an additional green arrow light (apart from the main signal light) present and flashing. Not following this rule will result in fines of …..

The government is taking a tough stance on financial transparency as well as crime prevention, especially in the area of money laundering, to help encourage foreign direct investment in Laos. As part of government’s efforts to bring the country’s financial standards in line with international systems, the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL)’s Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Unit yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ….

South Korea followed the US and Australia in issuing a travel warning against trips to Laos’ central province of Xaisomboun, as well as traveling on Route 13 that stretches from Kasi to Phou Khoun, part of the road connection between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The warning followed a number of recent shootings that involved and killed Chinese nationals working in Laos and already prompted the Laos government to ……

In the blinding glare of headlights, the traffic keeps coming. Motorbikes swerve dangerously, cars drive down the wrong side of the road – it’s Friday night in Vientiane, the busiest night of the week on the Laotian capital’s roads. With the country’s economy booming, more people in Laos can afford motorbikes and cars than ever before – and they drive ….

Vientiane police are pursuing their investigations into a network of people allegedly selling weapons in Laos. Officials will step up efforts to track down other suspects involved in weapons dealing and would seek to obtain more information from those already in police custody. Police held the press conference to inform the public that they had broken up a gang of weapons dealers and had impounded a number of items they were …..

Motorists in Vientiane will face ten-fold fines from now on if they violate a new city ban on the use of pavements, sidewalks or roadsides where parking is prohibited. In a warning for motorists, this includes all roads where the kerb and channeling is painted red and white, so members of the public will need to think more carefully about where they park their cars. The new city ban comes into effect this …..

Laos’s Communist Party on Friday chose Bounnhang Vorachit to be its new leader after a vote by a newly formed central committee that did not include the prime minister and former party chief, signaling their political exits. The country’s official KPL news agency said Bounnhang, the 78-year-old current vice president, won the leadership vote on Friday at the ……

The newly amended National Constitution has spelled out the mandate of the three State powers and the roles of the country’s top leaders. Stipulated in the 34-page constitution as the highest State Power, the National Assembly (NA) will play the role of electing or removing the President and Vice President of the Lao PDR in response to a proposal made by ….

The newly-amended constitution passed recently by the National Assembly (NA) has allowed the establishment of provincial assemblies (PAs) for the first time, which are set to function in an NA-like role as local parliaments. The constitution also stipulates, for the first time, that the president can hold office for not more than …..

Many people in Vientiane have begun to request the newly made Value Added Tax (VAT) invoices after learning the receipts may contain prizes, with tax officials hoping that the new incentives will boost revenue collection. “I’d like a VAT invoice because I may win a prize,” said a customer at a small barber shop in Phontong village, Chanthabouly district, Vientiane last weekend. “If this invoice really contains prizes, it is better than……

The calculation of severance pay, the use of foreign labour, and many other matters stipulated in the newly amended Law on Labour needed explanation to ensure the law was effectively enforced. These issues were discussed on Friday in Vientiane between employers, government officials, and international experts to test the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) labour code guides and training material. The calculation of severance pay that is fixed to 10 percent of previous ……

African footballers as young as 14 are being trafficked to Asia and forced to sign contracts, the BBC has learnt. Six minors are still with top Laos side Champasak United, after it imported 23 under-age players from West Africa to an unregistered football academy in February, a BBC investigation found. Fifa regulations prohibit the movement of players to a foreign club or academy until they are 18. The club, based in the southern city Pakse, denies any wrongdoing. “Fifa is in contact with several member associations in …..

Police authorities have asked foreign visitors to learn the traffic regulations in Laos before driving here in order to avoid road accidents. The road accidents information sector from Vientiane Police Office reported on Tuesday that the number of road accidents in Vientiane involving foreigners is still low but stressed that they require foreign visitors to learn the Lao traffic regulations before driving here. “It is still a low number but looking at the reality on the streets every day and you can see that there are several foreigners riding bicycles, motorcycles or even cars breaking the traffic regulations. If it stays like this the ….

Narcotics suppression officials from Vientiane arrested a man on Sunday after finding almost 3 million amphetamine tablets stashed in the SUV he was driving. As part of drug trafficking investigations in central Vientiane on June 7 officials followed a Toyota Prado that was driving at high speed through Phontong village in Chanthabouly district. The Vientiane Police Office reported yesterday the narcotics suppression team was ….

Police officers have responded to public complaints that they are not out on the streets at night to stop youths from racing motorbikes and disturbing the peace in central Vientiane. Chief of the Commando Security Team at the Vientiane Police Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Khamphiew Vatthanaphone, said yesterday they wanted the public to know that they’re working on the problem every day, especially at weekends. “Today we arrested some members of one group but by tomorrow there will be another group making trouble on …..

Some officials in certain sectors in Laos still believe that if corruption issues are allowed to come to light it will have a negative impact not only on the individuals concerned but also on the country as a whole. However a recent report from the Anti-corruption department posits the opposite, that in fact, when issues surrounding corruption and malpractice are exposed and then addressed, this actually paints the country in a positive light. The recently disclosed report was quite frightening to read and it was evident that corruption has become widespread, especially amongst …….

Driving on Lao roads is a main area of concern for newcomers as they fear reckless motorbike drivers and anarchic roundabouts. Driving a vehicle is first of all about safety, even after an accident has happened. No matter what type of road traffic accident you get involved in, here are a few tips as to what you should do:

A new law promulgated recently aims to better regulate alcoholic beverage businesses and their advertisements, hopefully preventing people from drinking to excess and lessening the resultant social and economic impacts. According to Article 20 of the 26 page Law on Alcoholic Beverages, venues offering alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be located near healthcare and education centres, state offices, religious venues, embassies, public parks, opera houses, passenger vehicle stations, petrol stations, sports complexes and factories. In addition, advertisements for alcoholic beverage products must not attempt to …..

As economies in the West remain shaky, Southeast Asia beckons investors. But alongside some of the world’s fastest growing economies is the risk of corporate corruption in a region where winning deals still sometimes means greasing the right wheels. Last month, the French engineering giant Alstom SA pleaded guilty to …..

A Vietnamese bank executive managed to get his hands on a Buddhist statue believed to be about 500 years old from a Lao Buddhist temple in the capital Vientiane—but only for five hours. It all started last year when the chairman and general director of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) headquartered in Hanoi, visited Ongtue Wat in Mixay village near the Mekong River in the capital’s Chanthaburi district. He was accompanied by a ….

McDonald Steed McGrath Lawyers Co Ltd has merged with Australian law firm Arion Legal, (www.arionlegal.com) creating a strong and improved presence and capability in the Lao PDR, now under the new name “Arion Legal” (incorporating McDonald Steed McGrath Lawyers Co Ltd). The merger will allow Arion Legal to leverage the strong …

Laos has issued a new law prohibiting online criticism of the government and the ruling communist party, according to state media, setting out stiff penalties for netizens and Internet service providers who violate controls. The 28-point decree makes Laos the latest Southeast Asian country to implement tough new laws governing use of the Internet. Under the decree, which will take effect on Oct. 1, netizens will face criminal charges for publishing ….

Here in Laos there is a system of ‘notarising’ and ‘registering’ various documents that are used in everyday life and for business purposes. A “certified translation” is sometimes required by embassies and the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example for visa applications and official documentation. A certified translation of a document can be obtained from a company registered to provide translations. A “notary” is generally defined as a person with legal training (but not a law degree necessarily) who is licensed by the state to perform acts in ……

Internet users who use social media such as Facebook to circulate false information or any use targeting to disrupt social order or undermine security could have their accounts blocked, a minister has said. The technical officials are working in an attempt to block false information and some accounts that target to tarnish the reputation of individuals, disrupt social order, and tarnish the image of the country and the government. Facebook has rapidly become popular among users worldwide and in Laos. The number of Lao Facebook users has more than doubled from ….

People are seeing scores of wood trucks on the roads every day in some parts of the country, prompting concerns that Lao’s forests may soon be stripped of all big trees. Most of the trucks look overloaded and some do not display number plates, leading to suspicions of illegal timber trading. “Logging is not taking place in all the woodlands of the country as the public think,” Deputy Director of the Forestry Department …..

The national commander of Thai Immigration, Lt Gen Phanu Kerdlaphon, has confirmed that “Out-In” visa runs are – apart from a few exceptions – a thing of the past. Speaking with The Phuket News this morning, Gen Phanu said, “We have been very lenient about this. I’ve had many comments about [our excessive leniency].” Several factors have come together to kill off the tourist visa run. The first is fallout from the disappearance of …. .

The government granted more work permits to foreign workers last year amid rising demand for a larger labour force to drive national economic development. The Lao National Economic Research Institute released its latest economic outlook recently, showing that the government granted work permits to 5,663 foreign workers in 2013 as part of efforts to secure the manpower needed by an increasing number of foreign investment projects. About 54 percent of the workers which received the work permits were from ….

Vientiane traffic police reported more than 30 road accidents in Vientiane last week, including six fatalities. Among the latest accidents involves a sport car which crashed into an electricity pole and tree at the Setthathirath Road in Xiengngeun village, Vientiane in the early morning of April 27. The 21-year old driver sustained critical wounds and later died in hospital. The passenger also …..

Laos reaching its target of issuing one million land titles by 2015 “is possible”, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mr Noulin Sinbandith said on Friday. Work on giving out land titles began in 1997 and since then around 730,000 have been issued. “The ministry has assigned provinces to pursue the ambitious target [of issuing the remaining 270,000 titles] by 2015,” the Minister told …..

Laos has largely fulfilled its commitment in implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption as regards incorporating the principles of the convention into its national laws. The evaluation suggested that Laos has 14 good points in combating corruption, while 15 shortcomings remain in existence and require the attention of authorities. The good points included the fact that Laos signed and ratified the ….

The Lao government will now allow the importation of motorcycles with engine capacities of greater than 250 cc’s, lifting a previous ban on the bikes as part of efforts to comply with World Trade Organisation obligations. In the past, the government banned imports of motorcycles with engine capacities of greater than 250cc’s in an effort to prevent criminals utilising high powered bikes to evade arrest by the police. Laos has no more reasons to ban the import of the vehicles since the country became a member of …..

Some young Lao women are reportedly being sold as brides in China, while about 72 per cent of trafficked children are girls under 18, according to a recent joint report by the government and the United Nations. Laos is primarily a source country for victims of trafficking and, to a much lesser extent, a transit and destination country. The government investigated 49 cases and convicted 37 offenders in 2012, compared with 20 cases investigated and 33 convictions in 2010. The details show that most of the cases involve children and young people who are often migrant workers seeking …..

Same-sex couples in France are not allowed to marry if one of the two is a Lao citizen or an expatriate of one of 11 countries, French officials said. France signed agreements with the countries stipulating their expatriates are prohibited from marrying under France’s new gay marriage law passed in May. The 11 countries are Laos, Poland, …..

The Lao Bar Association (LBA) is struggling to implement the professional rights of defence lawyers in regards to protecting and bringing justice to their clients. “All defence lawyers should strive to carry out their work effectively and uphold their rights as stipulated by the law in regards to protecting the rights and interests of individuals and legal entities in accordance with the law,” he said when speaking about the association’s future plans. The Law on Defence Lawyers stipulates 22 points regarding the rights and obligations of defence lawyers in relation to criminal and civil procedures….

Officials have quashed rumours that driving licences are being issued for sale by officials in the Vientiane Vehicle and Driving Management Division (VVDMD) – the body in charge of issuing licences in the capital. The statement comes following public allegations that licences could be bought and sold on the black market, and were made by officials involved in the regular issuing process. VVDMD rejected the allegation. He said it was impossible for such an irregularity to occur. “The application procedures to obtain a …

Many businesses, notably garment factories, are failing to comply with an increase in the minimum wage paid to workers, which came into effect on January 1. The government announced that the monthly minimum wage would increase from 348,000 kip to 626,000 kip plus any supporting allowances previously received, such as for lunch, good performance and social welfare benefits.

Between 1990 and June 2012, over 5,260 out of 334,876 people who were given blood check were identified HIV positive and other 3,282 people were living with AIDS. 1,334 people died of the disease during the period adding Vientiane was ranked first as a province with highest number of HIV infected people (1,873 people), followed by Savannakhet 1,793, and Champassack 552.

Some 178,000 children below the age of 18 are considered to be engaged in child labour out of more than two million children in this age group nationwide, according to a child labour report. Seven child labourers out of every 10 have been found working more than 49 hours a week, more than the 46 official working hours stipulated in the Labour Law. The National Child Labour Survey 2010 Report has been carried out since 2010, when the Lao population was about 5.8 million.

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